Sinner’s baseline mastery unlocks Paris semifinals
On the swift indoor hardcourts of Paris, Jannik Sinner turns Ben Shelton’s power against him, clinching a straight-sets win that revives his world No. 1 chase amid a tightening draw.
In the resonant confines of the Paris Masters, Jannik Sinner dismantled Ben Shelton with a 6-3, 6-3 verdict, claiming his first semifinal berth here and edging nearer to recapturing the top ranking. The Italian’s returns neutralized the American’s left-handed thunder, weaving crosscourt forehands into a rhythm that dictated play from the baseline. As the crowd’s energy pulsed with each extended rally, Sinner’s composure transformed the quarterfinal into a testament of controlled aggression on the low-bouncing surface.
Sinner‘s streak sharpens No. 1 pursuit
This triumph marked Sinner’s seventh straight over Shelton, stretching his indoor winning run to 24 since November 2023 and amplifying the stakes of his title quest. He varied his one–two patterns with inside-out forehands that stretched Shelton wide, forcing errors as the American’s aggressive slices faltered against the Italian’s depth. Lifting the Paris trophy—his first Masters of the year—would propel him back to world No. 1 on Monday, a milestone shadowed by earlier challenges but illuminated by his unerring focus amid the tournament’s mounting intensity.
Ahead awaits a showdown with defending champion Alexander Zverev or 2020 titlist Daniil Medvedev, whose late-Friday clash promises to yield a foe versed in indoor warfare. Sinner’s adaptations, like quicker footwork to counter the hardcourt’s speed, position him to exploit angles in what could become a tactical chess match of serves and counters.
Auger-Aliassime crushes Vacherot’s fairy tale
Across the bracket, Felix Auger-Aliassime overwhelmed wild card Valentin Vacherot 6-2, 6-2, ending the Monegasque’s streak of 10 consecutive Masters victories that peaked with a Shanghai crown this month. The Canadian’s flat backhands down-the-line pierced Vacherot’s defenses, while underspin approaches disrupted the underdog’s baseline steadiness on the slick surface. Auger-Aliassime’s poise, honed through 10 tour-level semifinals this season and titles in Adelaide, Montpellier, and Brussels, turned the match into a display of veteran control as the Paris crowd’s cheers shifted from surprise to inevitability.
This advances him to his fourth Masters semifinal, where tactical variety—mixing crosscourt depth with occasional net rushes—will test his limits against unpredictable opposition.
Bublik’s unbreakable serve sparks upset
Alexander Bublik delivered a serving clinic to dispatch sixth seed Alex de Minaur 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-5, holding firm without a single break point conceded in a tense three-setter. His inside-in forehands and subtle slices threw off de Minaur’s retrieval game, turning the Australian’s speed into overreaches as the late-session atmosphere thickened with each hold. Bublik’s surge since the French Open—30 wins in 37 matches and four titles—crowns him as the first Kazakh in a Masters semifinal, injecting flair into a draw dominated by precision players.
Facing Auger-Aliassime next, Bublik’s unorthodox drops and volleys could unravel the Canadian’s rhythm, setting up semifinals where indoor echoes magnify every pivot and the path to the final hinges on exploiting fleeting openings.